Gaming system, gaming controller, and a prize triggering method including additional symbol positions

Abstract

A gaming system includes a credit mechanism configured to receive credit input by a player for contribution to a credit balance and a display configured to display a plurality of standard symbol positions and optionally one or more additional symbol positions. The system also includes a betting module configured to determine a bet amount and game play instructions on commencement of a game input using a player interface, the bet subtracted from the credit balance. A symbol selector selects symbols for display in the plurality of standard symbol positions and, dependent on the amount wagered, further arranged to select and display symbols in the additional symbol position(s) to increase the probability of a win outcome being generated. An outcome determiner determines an outcome of the game based on the displayed symbol positions.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A gaming system comprising:
 a credit mechanism configured to receive credit input by a player for contribution to a credit balance; 
 a display configured to display a plurality of standard symbol positions, one or more additional symbol positions, and a symbol for each of the standard symbol positions and the one or more additional symbol positions; 
 a player interface operable to receive a game input from a player, the input comprising an amount bet and game play instructions; 
 a betting module configured to determine the amount bet and the game play instructions on commencement of a game input by the player using the player interface, the bet subtracted from the credit balance; 
 a symbol selector configured to select symbols for display in each of the plurality of standard symbol positions and, based on the amount wagered, is further configured to select symbols for display in the additional symbol position(s) to increase the probability of a win outcome being generated; and 
 an outcome determiner configured to determine an outcome of the game based on the arrangement of symbols displayed in the plurality of symbol positions. 
 
     
     
       2. The gaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the symbol selector selects a symbol for display in the additional symbol position(s) when the amount bet meets or exceeds a designated threshold and the display displays the additional symbol. 
     
     
       3. The gaming system according to  claim 2 , wherein the symbol selector selects a number of additional symbols to display in the additional symbol position(s) that corresponds to the amount bet. 
     
     
       4. The gaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein a trigger condition is satisfied when a particular number or combination of symbols are displayed in the standard and/or additional symbol positions. 
     
     
       5. The gaming system according to  claim 4 , wherein the trigger condition causes at least one of a feature game to commence, a win outcome to be triggered, and multiplication of a prize awarded for a winning outcome. 
     
     
       6. The gaming system according to  claim 5 , wherein triggering the win outcome includes awarding a jackpot prize. 
     
     
       7. The gaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of standard symbol positions are displayed in a format having an array of rows and columns and whereby each additional symbol position is associated with one of the rows or columns. 
     
     
       8. The gaming system according to  claim 7 , wherein the standard symbol positions define at least one player selectable payline used to determine the outcome of the game, and wherein symbols displayed in the additional symbol position(s) form part of a payline dependent on their location. 
     
     
       9. The gaming system according to  claim 8 , wherein the row or column associated with each additional symbol position is randomly determined. 
     
     
       10. A triggering method for a win outcome on a gaming device that includes a game controller, a credit mechanism, and a player interface, said method comprising:
 receiving, by the credit mechanism, credit input by a player for contribution to a credit balance; 
 displaying, by the player interface, a number of symbol positions in a reel window of the player interface; 
 receiving, by the game controller, a bet and game play instructions for commencement of game play input by the player using the player interface, the bet subtracted from the credit balance; 
 increasing, by the game controller, the number of symbol positions for display in the reel window as a function of the amount bet when the amount bet meets or exceeds a predetermined value to increase the probability of a win outcome being generated; and 
 displaying, by the player interface, the increased number of symbol positions. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising determining, by the game controller, that a trigger condition is satisfied when a specific symbol combination is displayed. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising at least one of commencing a feature game, awarding a prize, and multiplying a prize for a winning outcome when the trigger condition is satisfied. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising increasing the number of symbol positions displayed by a particular amount when the amount of credit bet exceeds or meets the predetermined value. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the particular amount corresponds to the amount bet. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the game is a reel game and increasing the number of symbol positions displayed comprises increasing the number of symbol positions dependent on an amount bet per payline selected in the reel game. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein increasing the number of symbol positions displayed comprises increasing the number of symbol positions in direct proportion to the amount of credit bet. 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a set of instructions for execution on a processor, said set of instructions configured to execute a triggering method for a win outcome on a gaming device having a game controller, a credit mechanism, and a player interface, the triggering method comprising:
 receiving, by the credit mechanism, credit input by a player for contribution to a credit balance; 
 displaying, by the player interface, a number of symbol positions in a reel window of the player interface; 
 receiving, by the game controller, a bet and game play instructions for commencement of game play input by the player using the player interface, the bet subtracted from the credit balance; and 
 increasing, by the game controller, the number of symbol positions for display in the reel window as a function of the amount bet when the amount bet meets or exceeds a predetermined value to increase the probability of a win outcome being generated; and 
 displaying, by the player interface, the increased number of symbol positions. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the game is a reel game, increasing the number of symbol positions displayed further comprises increasing the number of symbol positions dependent on an amount bet per payline selected in the reel game. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to  claim 17 , wherein the triggering method further comprises displaying the plurality of standard symbols in a format having an array of rows and columns, wherein each additional symbol position is associated with one of the rows or columns.